Automobile bttmpeb



1,494,941 J. I. ASNER AUTOMOBILE BUMPER Filed Dec. 20, 1923 inn atented May 20, 1924.

UNITED STATES JCJHN I. ASNER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

AUTOMOBILE BUMPER.

Application filed December 20, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, .lonN I. Asnnn, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Baltimore, State of lvlaryland, have invented certain new and useful I1nprovc ments in Automobile Bumpers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vehicle bumpers such as are used on automobiles at the front and rear thereof. 7

More especially does it relate to leaf spring bumpers of the kind described.

One important object of the invention is to improve the general construction of a de vice of this character.

A second important object of the invention is to provide improved means for bold ing the ends of the bun'iper and the middle part thereof together.

A third important object of the invention is to provide a leaf spring bumper havii'lg improved reinforcing features.

With. the above and other objects in view as will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and spe- (-iticially claimed.

In the accompanying drawings like charactors of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a double bumper as constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a detail perspective showing the middle part of said bumper from the rear.

.lligurc. 3 is a perspective view of the sprin clamps used herewith.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure l. but showing a single bumper.

Figure is a view showing the middle of the single bumper from its rear.

Figure (3 is a view in perspective of the clamp used with the single bumper form.

Both the double and single bumpers are of the same construction except for the clamp and duplication of the springs.

These springs may be termed the main members and each consists of a body formed from a single strip of metal having a straigl'lt forward portion 10. The ends of the strip being doubled baclm'ards and inwardly to provide end loops 11, in *ardly curved portions 12, straight portions in Serial No. 681,831.

parallel to the front 10 and terminal hooks 14;. Each of the clamps used to hold the hooks 14 in engagement with the center of portion 10 (JOIHPIlSBS a front plate 15 from the top of which extend rearwardly arms 16 provided with depending legs 17. Alined openings 18 are made in the corners of the front plate at the bottom and in the lower ends of the legs 17. In the form used with the double bumper the legs 17 are provided with f(')]."WL]l'(lly extending spacing lugs 19.

Each spring also has a front reinforcing strip 20 secured to the front face of the portion it) and the clamps are of such dimensions as to straddle the hooks, the spring portion 10 and the reinftnj'cing member 20. In the double form back clamps 21 may also be used and it obvious that suitable face bars 22 will be provided to secure the device to the frame portions of auton'lobiles. Bolts 23 pass through. the openings 18 and hold the clamps in place. By means of this construction a very resilient spring device is provided which sufficiently strong to P1(J] )G]fl absorb all the shocks incident to ordinary collisions. It will be seen that the reii'iforcing member stiffens the front part of the main members.

There has thus been provided a simple and efficient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the jkn'm and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, therefore, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to inclurjle all such as properly come within the scope clain'icd.

l laving thus described the ll'lVOHtiO'n, what is clain'led as new, is:

1. In a device of the kind described, a main spring member consisting of a strip of spring steel having a' straight center portion, the ends of said strip being doubled backwardly on the center portion and shaped to provide end loops at the ends of the center portion, forwardly curved portions adjacent said end loops, straight portions exteruling from the curved portion inwardly and parallel to the straight center portion and terminal spring hooks at the ends of the last mentioned portions; said terminal hooks extending forwardly from said ends at the center of the straight center portion and contacting therewith to support the lastmentioned portions in spaced relation to the center portion; and a reinforcing strip on the front of the straight center portion of the bar.

2. In a device of the kind described, a main spring member consisting of a strip of spring steel having a straight center portion, the end of said strip being doubled backwardly on the center portion and shaped to provide end loops at the ends of the center portion, forwardly curved portions adjacent said end loops, straight portions extending from the curved portions inward, and terminal hooks at the inner ends of the last mentioned portions; a reinforcing strip on the front of the straight center portion of the bar; and a clamp comprising a front plate resting against the center of the reinforcing strip, arms extending rear wardly from the front plate over the top of the reinforcing strip, the straight spring portion. and the terminal portions of the hooks; and legs depending behind said ter minal portions of the hooks.

3. In a device of the kind described, a pair of vertically spaced main spring members, each consisting of a strip of spring steel having a straight center portion, the ends of said strip being doubled backwardly on the center portion and shaped to provide end loops at theends of the center portion, forwardly curved portions adjacent said end loops, straight portions extending from the curved portions inward, and terminal hooks at the inner ends of the last mentioned por tions; a reinforcing strip on the front of the straight portion; and a clamp consisting of a plate resting against the center of the reinforcing strips, arms extending rearward I from the front plate over the top of the reinforcing strips, the straight spring portions and the terminal portions of the hooks; and legs depending behind said terminal portions of the hooks, the legs being prov'ided with forwardly extending spacing lugs titting between said springs.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN I. ASNER. 

